Estrogen enhances esophageal barrier function by potentiating occludin expression

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25460924
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Gastroenterology
• Research Institution: Akita University (2015); Tohoku University (2013-2014)
• Principal Investigator: Iijima Katsunori 秋田大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (60375003)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: エストロゲン / 逆流性食道炎

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We recently demonstrated that a female sex hormone, estrogen, suppressed esophageal epithelial injury in a reflux esophagitis model of rat, suggesting that estrogen may play an important role in controlling the progress of the gastro-esophageal reflux disease spectrum. In this study, we investigated the potential role of estrogen in the esophageal barrier function.Estrogen pretreatment significantly attenuated the decrease in the transmembrane resistance and the increase in the epithelial permeability induced by luminal irritants. The dilation of the intercellular space induced by luminal HCl was significantly alleviated by 17β-estradiol administration. The baseline occludin expression was significantly potentiated by 17β-estradiol administration. This is the first study showing an enhancement of the esophageal barrier function by 17β-estradiol administration. The lack of the protective effect of estrogen could be responsible for the male predominance of erosive reflux esophagitis.

Free Research Field

消化器内科